May 6, 2014
FBI Training Division: FBI Academy, Quantico, VA
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ive Su a usti i r Law Enforcement Partner
Caliber debates have existed in law enforcement for decades
Most of what is “common knowledge” with ammunition and its effects on the human target
are rooted in myth and folklore
Projectiles are what ultimately wound our adversaries and the projectile needs to be the
basis for the discussion on what “caliber” is best
in all the major law enforcement calibers there exist projectiles which have a high
likelihood of failing LEO’s in a shooting incident and there are projectiles which have a high
likelihood of succeeding for LEO's in a shooting incident
Handgun stopping power is simply a myth |
The single most important factor in effectively wounding a human target is to have
penetration to a scientifically valid depth (F BI uses 12” - 18")
LEO’s miss between 70 - 80 percent of the shots fired duringa shooting incident
Contemporary. projectiles {since 2007) have dramatically ifcreased the terminal
effectiveness of many premium line law enforcement projectiles (emphasis on the 9mm
Luger offerings)
9mm Luger now offers select projectiles which are, under identical testing conditions,
outperforming most of the premium line 40 S&W and .45 Auto projectiles tested by the FBI
9mm Luger offers higher magazine capacities, less recoil, lower cost (both in ammunition
and wear on the weapons) and higher functional reliability rates {in FB] weapons)
The majority of FBI shooters are both FASTER in shot strings fired and more ACCURATE
with shooting a 9mm Luger vs shooting a .40 S&W (similar sized weapons)
There is little to no noticeable difference in the wound tracks between premium line law
enforcement projectiles from 9mm Luger through the .45 Auto
Given contemporary bullet construction, LEO’s can field (with proper bullet selection) 9mm
Lugers with ail of the terminal performance potential of any other law enforcement pistol
caliber with none of the disadvantages present with the “larger” calibers
